WACO, Texas - Police have questioned Baylor University basketball players in the disappearance of a teammate, who authorities fear might be a victim of homicide.
Patrick Dennehy hasn't been heard from in more than two weeks and his sport utility vehicle turned up abandoned in a parking lot last week in Virginia with its license plates missing.
Coach Dave Bliss read a brief statement Saturday afternoon.
"Right now, the team, the university and all the members of the Baylor family and myself are in tremendous disbelief about the recent events," Bliss said. "If fact, no part really seems real."
Dennehy's stepfather, Brian Brabazon, criticized Baylor officials Saturday, saying they seemed aloof and brushed off any foul-play theories when he first contacted them.
"Nobody did anything," Brabazon told the Waco Tribune-Herald. "I was doing all the calling. Nobody at that school did anything until the police department was involved.
"I think they should have at least called us or called somebody after Patrick went missing for three or four days."
A school spokesman said coaches have kept in constant touch with Dennehy's mother.
"The coaching staff was very diligent in contacting the proper authorities when Pat first disappeared," Baylor spokesman Scott Stricklin said.
Investigators believe the 6-foot-10, 230-pound center might have been killed in the Waco area, though authorities wouldn't say what led them to that conclusion.
Waco police spokesman Steven Anderson said police have interviewed Baylor players, as well as other people, in the case.
"Several sources have mentioned names of players," Anderson said. Waco police spokeswoman Joy Mauer said Saturday that authorities had no additional information to release.
Brabazon said someone had recently stolen money from his stepson and that Dennehy had told Baylor coaches he was scared. The stepfather declined to discuss specifics.
"I don't see why anybody would threaten the guy," Brabazon said. "He's a great kid. He's never done anything wrong to people that I know of."
Several team members did not immediately return messages left by The Associated Press on Saturday.
Baylor player Ellis Kidd Jr. told The Dallas Morning News that police talked to a group of team members who hadn't already left for summer vacation.
"They just wanted our help," he said. "We just started having meetings with them. We don't know nothing. Everybody's shook up. We don't know what's going on. It's unknown."
Investigators have searched Dennehy's apartment at least twice in recent days, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported Saturday. They also sent at least one detective to Virginia Beach, Va., to examine Dennehy's vehicle.
Dennehy grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and played for Wilcox High School in Santa Clara and St. Francis High School in Mountain View.
Dennehy played two years at the University of New Mexico under coach Fran Fraschilla before transferring to Baylor. His sophomore season there was clouded by problems, including an argument during a game in 2002 when Dennehy shoved a teammate, kicked over a chair and stalked off to the locker room. He didn't return to the game.
Fraschilla declined to discipline Dennehy, and the team doctor said Dennehy was being treated for "a confidential medical condition."
Dennehy sat out last season after transferring to Baylor.
Patrick Dennehy hasn't been heard from in more than two weeks and his sport utility vehicle turned up abandoned in a parking lot last week in Virginia with its license plates missing.
Coach Dave Bliss read a brief statement Saturday afternoon.
"Right now, the team, the university and all the members of the Baylor family and myself are in tremendous disbelief about the recent events," Bliss said. "If fact, no part really seems real."
Dennehy's stepfather, Brian Brabazon, criticized Baylor officials Saturday, saying they seemed aloof and brushed off any foul-play theories when he first contacted them.
"Nobody did anything," Brabazon told the Waco Tribune-Herald. "I was doing all the calling. Nobody at that school did anything until the police department was involved.
"I think they should have at least called us or called somebody after Patrick went missing for three or four days."
A school spokesman said coaches have kept in constant touch with Dennehy's mother.
"The coaching staff was very diligent in contacting the proper authorities when Pat first disappeared," Baylor spokesman Scott Stricklin said.
Investigators believe the 6-foot-10, 230-pound center might have been killed in the Waco area, though authorities wouldn't say what led them to that conclusion.
Waco police spokesman Steven Anderson said police have interviewed Baylor players, as well as other people, in the case.
"Several sources have mentioned names of players," Anderson said. Waco police spokeswoman Joy Mauer said Saturday that authorities had no additional information to release.
Brabazon said someone had recently stolen money from his stepson and that Dennehy had told Baylor coaches he was scared. The stepfather declined to discuss specifics.
"I don't see why anybody would threaten the guy," Brabazon said. "He's a great kid. He's never done anything wrong to people that I know of."
Several team members did not immediately return messages left by The Associated Press on Saturday.
Baylor player Ellis Kidd Jr. told The Dallas Morning News that police talked to a group of team members who hadn't already left for summer vacation.
"They just wanted our help," he said. "We just started having meetings with them. We don't know nothing. Everybody's shook up. We don't know what's going on. It's unknown."
Investigators have searched Dennehy's apartment at least twice in recent days, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported Saturday. They also sent at least one detective to Virginia Beach, Va., to examine Dennehy's vehicle.
Dennehy grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and played for Wilcox High School in Santa Clara and St. Francis High School in Mountain View.
Dennehy played two years at the University of New Mexico under coach Fran Fraschilla before transferring to Baylor. His sophomore season there was clouded by problems, including an argument during a game in 2002 when Dennehy shoved a teammate, kicked over a chair and stalked off to the locker room. He didn't return to the game.
Fraschilla declined to discipline Dennehy, and the team doctor said Dennehy was being treated for "a confidential medical condition."
Dennehy sat out last season after transferring to Baylor.
